Highlanders FC formally announce return of head coaches Neil Sedgwick And Steve Simonson

March 24, 2022 (Victoria, BC) - Highlanders FC are excited to formally announce Neil Sedgwick as head coach of the Highlanders’ Women’s First Team and Steve Simonson as Men’s First Team head coach for the upcoming 2022 League1 BC (L1BC) season.

Sedgwick’s resume is extensive and includes a Canadian Soccer Association Level ‘A’ License, National Coaching Certification Program Level Five and certification as a Level 1 and Level 2 National Canadian Coaching Program (NCCP) Theory Instructor, among others. He is also the current head coach of the UNBC Timberwolves Women’s Soccer program.

Sedgwick’s EPIC Soccer program will merge its women’s program with the Highlanders to provide a player pathway for women’s soccer on Vancouver Island with the debut of L1BC.

"This is a perfect fit. Two organizations coming together to offer opportunities for island players. Our vision with VIFC when we entered the WPSL was to provide a playing environment for top female players,” said Sedgwick in November, 2021.  “With that, we also wanted young female players to see what the possibilities were when they came to watch the team play.”

Joining Sedgewick on the Highlanders’ men’s side is Steve Simonson, who brought the club to the brink of a USL Premier Development League championship in 2013 with a Final Four appearance in Austin, TX.

Simonson carries a CSA Level ‘B’ coaching certificate, National Coaching Certification Program Level Four, as well as a Level 1 and Level 2 National Canadian Coaching Program (NCCP) Theory Instructor. He has led UNBC’s men’s soccer program since 2015.

"The launch of League1 in British Columbia is a fantastic opportunity for so many aspiring players in our region,” added Simonson. “The league will be a great platform for some of the top young players to further their development, to extend their high-performance soccer careers, and possibly make the step into the professional game.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be back with the Victoria Highlanders as we enter the next chapter in our club's history, and to be part of the inaugural season of BC League1."

League1 BC is an adult open age Pro-Am Soccer League operated by BC Soccer. Established in 2021, the league is intended to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer, targeting the “Training to Compete” stage within Long-term Player Development (LTPD). 

The League will engage communities across British Columbia providing standard-based competition and training environments for female and male players, coaches, and match officials. League1 BC serves as a key platform of development into further opportunities within the game.

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